Income inequality is the real root cause of all our economic probles

[karynnj]

In the argument about whether the deficit is important and whether it has to be fixed by spending cost - mostly from the programs that help the poor - or increasing taxes, what is ignored is that the problem is likely structural.

Over the last 50 years, the % of income that goes to the wealthy has increased, year by year, to a point where the income "left" for the rest of the country is far too little.

When a Republican argue that the wealthy are already overtaxed. - speaking of the % of all taxes paid by the top 1%, the push back needs to be why that % is increasing. What many on the right quoting that correct number don't get is WHY this is number is getting progressively higher because the the % of all US income that goes to the top 1% is historically high and getting higher. They get around 40% of all the income in the US - and this is added to the huge assets they already have.

Here is an amazing video that shows what % of US wealth belongs to the top 20% - and how completely wrong the public perception of that % is -

[99Forever]

1. They are better than us, so...

.. they deserve to be filthy rich and we deserve to be hungry, homeless, and without decent medical care.

[karynnj]

3. the sad thing is some believe what you say sarcastically

- knowing that it is so obviously sarcastic, you do not even need to indicate that.

I have actually heard people - people I respect - that have said more understated versions of the first half of your comment. They ignore that many of the "filthy rich started with money that they had invested for them - paying less taxes on their "capital" than others must pay on their "labor".

[99Forever]

7. Judging from the policies and appointments of...

... our Democratic President and his administration, this must be what is best for us. I dare not question the wisdom of people so incredibly awesome and visionary.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Interesting video....thanks for the link....

K & R

[karynnj]

4. It was posted by many people on Facebook - and I thought it should be here.

It really is well done and challenges the Republican POV on whether taxes should be increased on the wealthiest.

[ProSense]

5. Excellent presentation.

The reality in this country doesn't just suck, it's heartbreaking.

[HiPointDem]

6. +1

[dkf]

8. Well one way to create more wealth is forced savings

Tax more to add to a forced savings account that you can count as part of your wealth.

The problem is you can't force anyone to create wealth otherwise. That is what is left over after a person's desire to spend is satisfied. If that never happens, no wealth is built.

[pampango]

9. And we only change that devolution into more and more obscene inequality with measures like FDR

pursued during the Great Depression. Higher/more progressive taxes, a stronger safety net and legislation to protect and empower unions are what will reverse the trend towards greater inequality. Those actions not only worked in FDR's day they work today in every other developed country which all have a much better distribution of income than we have in the US.